The country qualifies
International results and Olympic qualifying events determine which countries earn places under that Olympic cycle’s rules.
The road to the Games
How Do Curling Teams Get to the Olympics?
They need two things: a place for their country and the right to be the team representing it.
The country chooses a team
Each country has its own selection process. That may involve Olympic Trials or selection by its national program.
Both pieces must fit
Winning national trials does not guarantee an Olympic appearance if the country has not earned a place.
Sweep: “So winning the Trials might still not be the last step?”
Granite: “Exactly. First the country needs a place. Then its chosen team gets to use it.”
Granite: “Exactly. First the country needs a place. Then its chosen team gets to use it.”
A real example: the 2026 Games
The 2026 Olympic qualification system used results from the 2024 and 2025 World Championships plus an Olympic Qualification Event, with a place for host Italy. The U.S. men’s and women’s Trials winners still had to go through that international qualifier.
Men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles qualification are separate. A country may qualify in one discipline without qualifying in all three.
For the next Olympics: Do not assume the 2026 formula applies to 2030. World Curling and each national federation publish the rules for every Olympic cycle.
Sources: World Curling’s 2026 qualification explanation · USA Curling’s Trials-to-qualifier example
Olympic curling history
Gold Medal Games to Rewatch
Official full-game replays from the Olympic Games YouTube channel. Settle in—these are the whole games, not quick highlights.
Sweep: “Can I fast-forward to the yelling?”
Granite: “Not if you want to see why they are yelling. Gold-medal shots are built one quiet stone at a time.”
Granite: “Not if you want to see why they are yelling. Gold-medal shots are built one quiet stone at a time.”
United States vs. Sweden — Men’s Final
John Shuster’s U.S. team faces Niklas Edin’s Sweden. Watch how the eighth end is built before the game’s defining moment.
Open the official replay on YouTube →South Korea vs. Sweden — Women’s Final
South Korea’s home-crowd favorites meet Anna Hasselborg’s Swedish team. Notice the draw weight, patience, and pressure around every setup shot.
Open the official replay on YouTube →Great Britain vs. Japan — Women’s Final
Eve Muirhead’s Great Britain team meets Satsuki Fujisawa’s Japan. Watch how calm communication and precise draw weight shape a gold-medal game.
Open the official replay on YouTube →Men’s Gold Medal Match
Follow the final from the opening setup stones to the last pressure shots. It is a full-game look at elite four-player curling.
Open the official replay on YouTube →Mixed Doubles Gold Medal Match
Two players, five delivered stones, and fast decisions. This final is an easy way to see how mixed doubles differs from the four-player game.
Open the official replay on YouTube →Replay availability can vary by country. Every video is an official Olympic Games upload.
When the Games arrive
Where do I watch?
Use the official Olympic broadcaster for your country and that Games’ viewing guide. Grand Slam and World Curling subscriptions are separate.